Direction signal



Feb. 26 1924.

Z. RIDDLE DIRECTION S IGNAL Filed April 2, 1920 NM WNN\ MN INVENTOR ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

ZALA RID-DLE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DIRECTION SIGNAL.

Application led April 2, 1920. Serial No. 870,791.

To ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ZALA RIDDLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ot California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Direction Signals, ot' which the jfollowing 'is a specification.

This invention relates to switches for di rection signals.

. In 'carrying out my invention, I provide a lamp in each circuit, the lamps being of different color and adapted to be singly lighted upon closing of a certain circuit.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detail description is taken in connection with the accompanying dra-wings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of partsI as claimed. I

In the drawings Vforming part of this specification` like numerals of'reference ndicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of the device controlled by a suitable switch.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken through the switch.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A and B respectively, indicate solenoids which are connected inseparate circuits including a switch of the construction illustrated in Figure 2. Upon reference to this figure it will be noted that the switch mechanism kis arranged within a casing 21 provided with ai screw threaded detachable cover 22 the latter having an enlarged central opening 23 to permit of proper movement of the manipulating handle or member 24 of the switch. This manipulating element 24 is vieldably supported by the coil spring 25 upon a base 26 for rocking movement,

. through the medium of the plate 26', the

end convolution of the coil spring bearing againstt-he plate and the base respectively, and carries the movable member 27 of the switch, which in this specific instance is in the form of a disk as shown. The coil spring is arranged within the housing 21' which has its top wall slotted as at 22 to further permit the proper movement of the manipulating handle 24. Surrounding the lower edge of the housing then `is a flange 23 for securing said housing to the base 26. Projecting from the base 26 are spaced groups of fixed contact members, each group being distinguished by the characters C, D and ll respectively. The group C in.- cludes two contacts 29 and 30 respectively, a similar number of contacts being emn bodied in the group D and designated by the numerals 3l and 32 respectively, while in the group E there'are three of such contacts indicated at 33, 34 and 35 respectively. The contact 30 of the group C, the contact 34 of the group E and the contact oi' the group D are all offset adjacent. their tree ends to provide a. retaining or locking element 24 in contacting engagement therewith if so desired. The Contact 30 of the group C is connected with thev adjacent contact 33 of the group E by means of the curved metallic strip 36, while the contact 32 of the group D is connected with the adjacent. contact of the group E by means of a similar strip 37. The movable contact 27' being carried by the manipulating element 24 which is mounted' for rocking movement, is disposed to be moved into en gagement with either group of contacts C, D, and E. I

In practice, when the movable contact 27 is moved into engagement with the contacts of the group C, current flows from the battery 40 through the wire 41 to the switch,

energizing the solenoid A. The current also passes through the wire 42 to the lamp-- 43. The current passes through the lamp 43 and wire 44 to the return 45, thence through the switch for the lights indicated at G and back to the battery through the wire 46. Obviously, the plate or strip 36 is energized by the contact 30, to which plate or strip the solenoid A, is associated, while the wire 42 connects the lamp 43 wlth the contact 29.

When the movable contact 27 is brought into' engagement with the fixed contacts of the group D,=the plate or strip 37 is energized. The solenoid B- being associated with this plate or strip 37 is also energized. The current in this instance passes from the battery 4() to the'wire 41, then to the switch energizing the strip 37 and the solenoid B as stated. The current then passes through the switch and wire 47 to the lamp 48-which is of a different color from the lamp 43. The current passes through the lamp tothe common return 45 and back to the battery in the manner above stated.

Vhen the contact 27 is moved into engagement with the contacts of the group E, both the strips 36 and. 37 are energized, energizing both the solenoids A andS respectively. The current in this instance passes from the contact 34 through the Wire 50 to the lamp 51, the latter being of a different -not limit myself to what is herein shown, as'the same is merely illustrative of the principle of operation, and thatsuch changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is: I

f Arswitch for automobile signalling devices comprising a casing, a cover provided with an enlarged opening and threadedly mounted on the casing, .a base secured within the casing and being spaced andvarranged parallel with the bottom thereof, a housin provided with a slottedtop Wall and an o set flange securing said housing to the base, a platel engaging the top wall of the housing and adaptedto normally close the slot therein, a coil spring arranged contrally within the housing and having its end convolution bearing against the plate and base respectively, a swinging handle rising from the plate vand being yieldably supported by the spring through the medium of the plate, said handle projecting through and beyond the slot in the top 4'Wall ofthe housing and through and beyond the opening of the cover, a disk arranged within the. casing and i carried by said handle intermediate of its ends. a plurality of stationary contacts secured to said base and arranged in the path of the disk and an offset portionarranged on the free ends of some of said stationary contacts and inclined toward the housing as and for the purpose specified.

,In testimony whereof I aiix my signature..

AZALA RIDDLE. I 

